Religious and educational aspects of temperance / by various authors.

Date:
[1874?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Religious and educational aspects of temperance / by various authors. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and to save that which was lost, to regard it with loathing and detestation? Ought not we to banish it from our homes, and frown upon its introduction wherever and whenever we have the power ? Dear friends, we read of one kind of demoniacal posses- sion which went not out but by prayer and fasting; so it is with this destroyer of souls and bodies. Fasting from this enthralling beverage ourselves, we can speak with God- given power to those who are sinking under its thraldom, and, by fervent prayer together, bring down that promised strength which alone can break its chains ; and, better still, we can ask the young, who have not yet begun to fetter themselves with it, to follow our example and remain free from its shackles. When first I began to work in the temperance cause, my only aim was to induce drunkards to abstain, and many years of my life were wasted in this arduous and almost fruitless labour. As time went on and I gained experience (both theoretical and practical), my eyes were opened to see that the seed I scattered fell on stony ground. The dulled intellect and enfeebled will of the victims of strong drink, their absolute inability to believe that they art inebriates (this being especially the case with women who drink to excess), and their utter want of desire to be free from their degrading vice, have taught me the futility of my efforts. Fifteen years’ experience has convinced me that the work of reformation in such cases is almost hopeless; therefore my chief aim now is prevention, and I would rather convert one Christian Sunday-school teacher to total abstinence than induce fifty drunkards to sign the pledge. The latter might keep from strong drink, some for a week, some for a month, some for a year, some even for five, ten, or even twenty